Compare towns
Rome vs Denmark vs Smithfield vs Cushing
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Denmark has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Rome | Denmark | Smithfield | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
1,054 |
856Lowest |
1,460Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME |
54.4±5 21% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
| Smithfield and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Rome and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$64,167±$10kLowest 14% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
| Smithfield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$1,409±$207 24% above ME |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
| Cushing and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
$2,259 26% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.